Volume 10: Thunderous Movements and Winds Rising, Chapter 2: Sanjia Tribe

Although smuggling alleviated many of the Mountain people's difficulties, they gradually discovered that these smuggling groups actually had secret agreements with the states and regional powers that imposed blockades on them. These agreements ensured that the amount of food smuggled would never exceed a certain limit that would allow the Mountain people to store and stockpile food.

The food acquired from each smuggling venture cost a huge sum of money, and it was only enough to meet the bare necessities. Whenever you hoped to smuggle in more food, no matter how high the price you offered, those smuggling groups would find various reasons to refuse.